The word arthritis is derived from the Greek words arthro, which means joints and –itis, which means inflammation. Arthritis is the inflammation in the joints of the body. Mostly arthritis is found in humans above the age of 55. The history of arthritis traces back to centuries. It is one of the oldest diseases in the universe. Moreover, the history of arthritis makes an interesting study.
In 1890, the European doctors found that by applying quinine, the lesion caused by the lupus reduced significantly. In 1940, the soldiers in the tropics used the drug chloroquine to reduce the symptoms of arthritis. Finally in 1999, the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) approved Cox-2 inhibitors to cure arthritis without much stomach disorder. This has become a great boon for the arthritis patients.
The history of arthritis includes the fact that there are many kinds of arthritis. They are the Rheumatoid Arthritis, the Psoriatic Arthritis, the Septic Arthritis, the Gouty Arthritis and the most common arthritis which is the Osteoarthritis. The common meaning of arthritis is pain, and mostly this pain differs from arthritis to arthritis and the location. The osteoarthritis is worse at nights, whereas, the Rheumatoid Arthritis is worse in the mornings.
The history of Osteoarthritis was found in the dinosaurs, whereas the first trace of human arthritis refers back to 4500 BC. Some of the evidence of arthritis throughout History is found in Otzi, a mummy, found along the border of Italy and Austria to the Egyptian mummies circa 2590 BC. The arthritis care reaches its history of 60 years.
The most important step in diagnosing the Rheumatoid Arthritis is the medical history as well as physical examination which can evaluate the pain and the stiffness.
The history of the Gout Arthritis is a century old. It was associated with “high living and superior social status” and “Longevity.” Prominent men like Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson were gout sufferers. In 1861, the gout is referred to a peculiar disease which is similar to rheumatism, affecting the joints especially at the foot and toes.
Modern theory says that by immersing the affected part in cold water for few minutes and done frequently reduces the pain in gout arthritis.
Arthritis is known to affect the older generation and kids as well. Pain is not the symptom in all cases at times; people who have arthritis just stop using that particular limb. It is only as late as the nineteenth century that Arthritis was given a separate identity, till then it was believed to be a side effect of old age and other diseases.
It was believed that Arthritis was caused by the deficiency of certain minerals and vitamins. Then, there was a belief that this was only a problem which aroused due to stress caused by the environment or by the individual’s psychology.
Rothschild was a scientist who believed that the history of arthritis is 4000 years old and started in the area of the Tennessee Indians. He believes that it spread from there. Now, it is a known fact that Arthritis is inflammation of the joints and there are cures for it and still a lot of research is being done on the topics.
